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amandasbookreview 's review for:
The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers
by Maxwell King
I think that The Good Neighbor by Maxwell King is a great way to kick off November. It is a month of being grateful, cherishing our loved ones, and being thankful for everything we have in our lives as we head into the craziness of the holiday season. This book goes through the life and work of the incredible Fred Rogers, whom we all know as Mr. Rogers, from the TV show, Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. He was someone who was able to connect and empathize with everyone he met, especially children. He dedicated his life to making children feel safe and comforted. The book starts off when Fred was just a child. He came from a wealthy family and was an only child. He also experienced bullying as a child and really focused on his love for music. He loved playing the piano and eventually, it became a major part of his life. The book chronicles meeting his wife, his life as a father, and his failures and successes in the TV business.
“When I was a boy I used to think that strong meant having big muscles, great physical power, but the longer I live, the more I realize that real strength has much more to do with what not is seen. Real strength has to do with helping others.” -Fred Rogers
The Good Neighbor, page 323
Well, I am pretty grateful that no one was around while I was reading this book. There were tears…lots of tears. Everyone hears stories about the legendary Fred Rogers. Many think that he was too good to be true. Did the man have any faults? Of course, he did. He is only human, but he recognized his faults. He worked so hard to be selfless, to help those that needed help. He is the true definition of what it means to be a Christian. In fact, in the book, those who knew him said he was “Christ-like.” He didn’t judge. He supported everyone around him. He embraced all religions and supported those who had different beliefs than his own. He knew how to love—how to truly love someone. There was a scene where Fred Rogers went out to dinner at a place where he wouldn’t be approached, so he could have a quiet dinner. A little boy, whom he did not know, approached him and said, “my dog died.” Fred immediately drops to his knees and talks with the little boy, but mostly listens as the child voices his sadness, concerns, and anxiety. When Fred Rogers was on Oprah, he didn’t want children in the audience because he knew he would be distracted by them and would rather talk to them.
I was very interested in the sections that described him as a father. As parents we all make mistakes. I was wondering if he did as well. He went through what every parent goes through. There is one scene that got me. The author described when Fred Rogers had to have surgery. It was a hernia surgery. The doctors took his son to the room and his son cried and reached out to him, causing Fred to be extremely upset and emotional. I can relate to this first hand since my son has the same surgery and almost the exact same thing happened. I will never forget my son reaching out for me, screaming in terror. I had to pause reading that book to collect my emotions.
Some parts of the story are a little slow, as it goes into the complexities of his job and how he worked with those around him. But overall, I could not put this book down. Even in a biography, Fred Rogers is engaging. There were some scenes that made me question my ability as a parent, knowing I could never live up to the Fred Rogers standard. However, he is definitely inspiring and I learned so much, not just about Fred Rogers, but of kindness, children, and what it means to be a good person. I really recommend this read. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.
“When I was a boy I used to think that strong meant having big muscles, great physical power, but the longer I live, the more I realize that real strength has much more to do with what not is seen. Real strength has to do with helping others.” -Fred Rogers
The Good Neighbor, page 323
Well, I am pretty grateful that no one was around while I was reading this book. There were tears…lots of tears. Everyone hears stories about the legendary Fred Rogers. Many think that he was too good to be true. Did the man have any faults? Of course, he did. He is only human, but he recognized his faults. He worked so hard to be selfless, to help those that needed help. He is the true definition of what it means to be a Christian. In fact, in the book, those who knew him said he was “Christ-like.” He didn’t judge. He supported everyone around him. He embraced all religions and supported those who had different beliefs than his own. He knew how to love—how to truly love someone. There was a scene where Fred Rogers went out to dinner at a place where he wouldn’t be approached, so he could have a quiet dinner. A little boy, whom he did not know, approached him and said, “my dog died.” Fred immediately drops to his knees and talks with the little boy, but mostly listens as the child voices his sadness, concerns, and anxiety. When Fred Rogers was on Oprah, he didn’t want children in the audience because he knew he would be distracted by them and would rather talk to them.
I was very interested in the sections that described him as a father. As parents we all make mistakes. I was wondering if he did as well. He went through what every parent goes through. There is one scene that got me. The author described when Fred Rogers had to have surgery. It was a hernia surgery. The doctors took his son to the room and his son cried and reached out to him, causing Fred to be extremely upset and emotional. I can relate to this first hand since my son has the same surgery and almost the exact same thing happened. I will never forget my son reaching out for me, screaming in terror. I had to pause reading that book to collect my emotions.
Some parts of the story are a little slow, as it goes into the complexities of his job and how he worked with those around him. But overall, I could not put this book down. Even in a biography, Fred Rogers is engaging. There were some scenes that made me question my ability as a parent, knowing I could never live up to the Fred Rogers standard. However, he is definitely inspiring and I learned so much, not just about Fred Rogers, but of kindness, children, and what it means to be a good person. I really recommend this read. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.